Duke's Mason Plumlee, picked by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, smiles during a news conference Thursday, June 27, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

DURHAM —

Given all he’s been through the last two seasons with injuries, hearing his name called in the NBA Draft late Thursday night was very special to Ryan Kelly.

“I feel unbelievably blessed,” he said. “I’ve been handed a great opportunity, and I look forward to taking advantage of it. It’s hard to put into words how excited I am.”

After twice having surgery to repair his injured right foot in the last two years limiting his availability for Duke, Kelly was selected in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Neither Kelly’s injury history, nor his choice of college, dissuaded Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, a former star at rival North Carolina, from taking Kelly.

“It’s unusual to get a guy that’s 6-11, 6-11 1/2 that has the skill that he has,” Kupchak told reporters in Los Angeles, “so it’s a unique opportunity, a big player that has an NBA frame that can shoot the ball not only mid-range, but he can make some shots. I think he can become a consistent 3-point shooter in the NBA as well.”

While playing only 23 games for the Blue Devils last season, the former Raleigh Ravenscroft high school star averaged 12.9 points per game while making 41 percent of his 3-pointers.

Kelly was unable to work out for NBA teams prior to the draft due to his foot injury. But he said X-rays taken on Monday showed his broken fifth metatarsal has completely healed.

Kupchak said he’s comfortable with Kelly’s health while adding that the team will take it slow with Kelly’s playing time this summer.

“We’ve done some research and we’re very familiar with the injury,” Kupchak said. “In fact, he’s been cleared to play. But I don’t think he’s going to play for another week or two. I don’t think he’ll participate in summer league. I don’t think there’s any need to rush him.”

While Kelly prepares to begin his professional career on the west coast, his former Duke frontcourt mate Mason Plumlee will play NBA basketball in New York.

The 7-foot Plumlee, a second-team all-American pick after averaging 17 points and 9.9 rebounds last season, was a first-round pick by the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. The No. 22 overall pick joins a team in transition that is looking to win next season at the same time.

Multiple media reports have the Nets set to acquire Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry from the Boston Celtics. Neither team is allowed to comment on the deal until the new NBA year begins on July 10.

Regardless of who is on the team with him, Plumlee is confident he’ll be able to contribute immediately.

“I’m just happy to be a part of the team right now,” Plumlee said. “We’ll figure all that out come camp. But I’m a basketball player, you put me on the floor, I’m going to play my game. We’ll go from there.”

Former Duke player Billy King, Brooklyn’s general manager, said his close relationship with his alma mater and former coach, Mike Krzyzewski, gave him confidence in Plumlee.

“I have had the pleasure of seeing him play quite a bit,” King said. “I attended quite a bit of Duke games. I had a chance to talk to Coach K. We like what he can bring, athletic ability. He can run the floor, and get up and down. A great kid.”

TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWN OF THURSDAY’S DRAFT

Team-by-team breakdown of the players each team ended up with in the draft: